Wire gate closer



i958 c. H. BICHEL 2,823,942

- WIRE GATE CLOSER Filed Aug. 10, 1956 INV EN TOR.

Car/ H Bic/7e) BY HTTORNEY United States Patent WIRE GATE CLOSER Carl H. Bichel, Wakefield, Nebr.

Application August 10, 1956, Serial No. 603,353

1 Claim. (Cl. 292-247) My invention relates to a wire gate closer.

An object of my invention is to provide a wire gate closer which will automatically and efliciently close a wire gate, and which will also release the gate when required.

A further object of my invention is to rovide the wire gate closer in a relatively sim le constructi n.

With these and other objects in i w. mv ilr'enti n consists in the construction. arrangement. nd c mbination of the various parts of my device. whereby the ob jects contem lated are attained. as herein fter more fully set forth, pointed out in my claim, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure l is a side elevation of the device in one position,

Figure 2 is a plan view of Figure l, and

Figure 3 is a side view of the device in its closed position.

My invention relates to a simple device or arrangement which will draw the top of the end post of a wire gate toward the fence post adjacent to the gate and which will maintain the gate post in secure position, and in a simple operation.

I have used the character to designate the stationary fence post to which the wire gate is to be secured, and I have used the character 11 to indicate the end post of the wire gate itself, the bottom of which is secured within the usual bottom wire loop passing about the post 10, the post 11 and the wire gate usually lying on the ground when it is desired to drive animals through the gateway, etc.

The device of my invention includes a pair of arcuate strap members 12 terminating in the ears 13 through which ears pass the bolt and nut arrangements 14, this arrangement thereby providing means for securely attaching the members 12, 13, etc. to posts of various diameters.

Pivoted at 15 to the members 12 are the side members of a lengthened substantially U-shaped member 16 having the arcuate end portion 17, and suitably pivoted at 18 to the member 16 is a further lengthened U-shaped member 19 having the arcuate end portion 20.

Secured to one of the sides of the member 16 as at 21 is an angle-shaped member 22 having the flange 23.

Pivotally secured at 24 to one of the sides of the member 19 is a latch unit 25 having a slot 26, and having a transverse pin 27 which abuts against the top edge of the member 16, the member 25 including the weighted portion 28.

It will be noted from the foregoing description that the clamp comprising the members 12 etc. will provide means for securely attaching the device to the post 10, the device being in its open position in Figure 1.

When it is desired to close the gate, the lower end of the post 11 is placed in the lower loop, and the end of the U-shaped member 19 can be placed over the upper end of the post 11 as shown in Figure 1. Next, the portion 17 is grasped by the hand and the entire arrangement is then swung in the direction of the arrow 29. As the member 16 is thereby swung in the direction of the arrow 29, the pivotal attachment 18 will correspondingly draw the member 20 toward the left as viewed in the figures, and when the member 16 occupies the position shown in Figure 3, the top of the post will be drawn to its vertical position as shown in Figure 3. The latch member 25 includes the small arcuate portion at 30, and as the member 16 travels downwardly towards the position shown in Figure 3, the arcuate portion 30 of the latch will abut against one end of the flange 23, swinging the lower end of the latch member toward the right until the end of the member 23 falls within the slot 26, whereby the Weighted portion 28 will then swing the lower end of the latch 25 toward the left, thereby causing the end of the flange 23 to pass within the slot and thereby also locking the arrangement, so that in this way the gate will be securely closed and cannot he accidentally opened.

When opening the gate, the latch is pivoted to release the slot from the flange 23 and the member 16 is swung over in the reverse direction back in the position shown in Figure 1, whereby the top of the post 11 can be released by a simple manipulation of the member 19.

It will now be seen that I have provided the advantages mentioned in the objects of my invention with various other advantages being readily apparent.

Some changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of the parts of my invention without departing from the real spirit and purpose of my invention, and it is my invention to cover by my claim any modified forms of structure or use of mechanical equivalents which may be reasonably included within their scope.

I claim as my invention:

A wire gate closer comprising a clamp for attachment to a stationary post, a hand operated substantially U- shaped member pivoted to said clamp, 21 further substantially U-shaped member pivoted to said hand operated member, the end of said further substantially U-shaped member being adapted to receive the top of a gate post therein, whereby movement of said hand operated member will draw said gate post toward said stationary post, the pivoting point of said further U-shaped member to said hand operated member being substantially oft-set from the pivoting point of said hand operated member and said clamp, said clamp including a pair of arcuate portions having extending ears, bolts received through said ears, said further substantially U-shaped member extending substantially beyond the end of said hand operated member, means for locking said U-shaped members together after said further U-shaped member is swung to gate closing position, including a weighted latch member pivoted to said further U-shaped member, said latch member having a slot, a flange secured to said hand operated member received in said slot when said gate is in closed position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,566,771 Limpo et al Sept. 4, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS 551,451 Great Britain Feb. 23, 1943 

